Song Name: Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA
Artist: DEVO
Appears On:
- Duty Now For The Future, Greatest Hits, Hot Potatoes, Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology
- DEVO Live: The Mongoloid Years, Miracle Witness Hour, Live at Max's Kansas City - November 15, 1977, DEV-O Live (Re-release Only), DEVO Live: 1980, New Traditionalists: Live 1981 Seattle
- Live in Central Park, Live at the Observatory, Santa Ana, CA
Year Written: 1974 (Smart Patrol)/1977 (Mr. DNA)
Smart Patrol Performed (without Mr. DNA) 1975,[1] (?also 1976?),
Medly Performed: [2] 1977-1982, 1989-present setlist.fm stats
Run Time: 6:02 (Album Version)
Writing Credits:
- "Smart Patrol": Gerald V. Casale
- "Mr. DNA": Gerald V. Casale/Mark Mothersbaugh
Sung By: Mark Mothersbaugh, Gerald V. Casale, Bob Mothersbaugh (co-lead) Bob Casale (backing)
Alternate Versions: Sometimes Smart Patrol is played without the segue to Mr. DNA
Demo Versions: Smart Patrol (Version 1), Smart Patrol (Version 2) both are from 1974, v. 1 in May, v. 2 in October
Song Connections: The Death of Lt. Casanova (Features similar medley)
Trivia / Info:[]
- The origins of the "Smart Patrol" title can be found in a bootleg from 1974, where Jerry says to an audience member: "Alright. You're a smart prole. Nowhere to go."
- The song was originally titled Smart Proletariats, and featured elements from another song played at the concert called "The Death of Lt. Casanova"
- "Smart Patrol" was first performed in April 1975. Devo performed two sets before each showing of John Water's transgressive film "Pink Flamingos." [3]
- Devo may also have included this in a November 1975 performance after a movie shown at the "Kiva" in the Kent State University Student Center. An 11/25/1975 Daily Kent Stater ad includes the words "DEVO" (twice) and "soupdujour" (sic). [4]
- Early demos were recorded with the voices of the DEVO characters Booji Boy, Chinaman, and Clown.
Onstage Behavior:
- Bob 1 plays the La Baye 2x4 (he calls it his "Mr. DNA" guitar).
Lyrics: Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA - LyricWikia
- He's been with the world
- And I’m tired of the soup du jour
- He's been with the world
- I wanna end this prophylactic tour
- Afraid nobody around here
- Understands my potato
- I think I’m only a Spudboy
- Looking for a real tomato
- We're the Smart Patrol
- Nowhere to go
- Suburban robots that monitor reality
- Common stock
- We work around the clock
- We shove the poles in the holes
- Wait a minute, something's wrong
- He's the man from the past
- He's here to do us a favor
- A little human sacrifice
- It's just supply and demand
- Mr. Kamikaze
- Mr. DNA
- He's an altruistic pervert
- Mr. DNA
- Mr. Kamikaze
- He's here to spread some genes
- Wait a minute, something's wrong
- He's a man with a plan
- His finger is pointed at Devo
- Now we must sacrifice ourselves
- That many others may live
- Okay we've got a lot to give
- This monkey wants a word with you
References:
- ↑ DEVO Live Guide. Website keyword search for "smart patrol".
- ↑ DEVO Live Guide. Website keyword search for "smart patrol/mr. dna".
- ↑ DEVO Live Guide - 1973 to 1977 04/04/75 - University Auditorium, Kent State University, Kent, OH - Notes. Huboon.com.
- ↑ Daily Kent Stater 25 November 1975. Page 10 Advertisements Column 1. "DEVO continental Soupdujour Europe and wet look experience Devo Nov. 25 at the Kiva after Teus. Flicks." KSU library online archive.
External Links:
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